We’ve come to this point in the book of Hebrews where the author is writing to people who are suffering, people who are so beaten down with difficulties and troubles and problems that they’re ready to give up. Does that speak to anyone here today? So the writer is trying to give the readers not only some warnings about straying away from God but also what they need to handle all the brutal realities of life in this world. As we reach chapter 11 he gives us something else. If you have it, it’s like he’s saying you will be able to handle absolutely anything life throws at you. Anyone need that? So you might be asking, what is it? How do we get it?

Hebrews 11:32-40

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Discipleship Conversations:

For Adult Homes or Groups
1. How would you finish this sentence: I wish I had (a) better. . .

2. READ Hebrews 11:32-40. Of all the people mentioned in this section, with whom do you feel you have the most in common? Why?

3. How has your life changed as a result of God’s gift of faith in your life?

4. “You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die.” Are you still living
with the fear of death? (See Hebrews 2:14-15) How might your life look different if you lived without the “fear of death”?

5. How would the reality of a “better life/resurrection” guaranteed by
Jesus’ life/death give you more confidence to talk to others about this Gospel hope?

6. As you close in prayer, be sure and ask for forgiveness for your sins (Hebrews 12:1), endurance to run the race marked out for you (12:1),
and the faith to “fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of
your faith.” (12:2)

For Families with Kids
1. Read Hebrews 11:32-35 together.

2. Tell your kids about a time when you had faith that God would do something in your life.

3. What is faith?

4. The verses we read say that some people, while in hard times, chose
to place their faith in God and “be raised to an even better life” (NIRV).
What life is this verse talking about? What makes that life “even better?”

5. How can we be sure that we get to live an even better life with Jesus one day? (Hint: it’s all about putting our faith in Jesus!)

6. Bonus Activity: Play the feather game! Give each person in your family a feather and see how long they can keep it in the air using just their breath. Afterward, explain to the kids that even though their breath is not something we can see, it’s clear that their breath is there because the feather stayed in the air. How is this like our faith in God?